SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5739, 5 December 1896, Page 4

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

[Per Press (Per s.s. Monowai at Auckland.) London despatches of Nov. 6 mention that there is great business buoyancy and a general vise in values in the English markets, which is ascribed to the success of the Republican candidate (Major M'Kinley) for the Presidency of the United States. Scottish people are in a state of agitation over the playing of golf on Sundays, and Mr Monroe Ingrain, M.P. for Leith, who defends it, is likely to lose his seat in consequence. The lady golfers of Scotland appear most enthusiastic in favour of Sunday play. The Manchester Guardian is the authority for saying that Mr Chamberlain during his late visit to the United States became a convert to bi-metallism. The Canadian Government has granted from .£3OOO to £4QM to be expended in England with the object of introducing Canadian products to the British market. Hunter's Review (London) for the week ending Nov. 7 points out that forty-four bicycle companies have been floated during the past year, with a capital of nearly .£14,500,000, and that out of the purchase price of .£9,048,275, the vendors took over in cash. The Review thinks this industry is overdone, and that the American machines will eventually diive highpriced British goods out of the market. The English municipal elections during the week ending Nov. 7 made a change of opinion in favour of the Liberals. In the provincial towns the Liberals gained many seats, while the Labour party suffered badly. The Liberals gained five seats in Leeds alone. At a banquet given to Lord Dufferin at Belfast, Ireland, on Oct. 28, that eminent statesman declared that owing to deafness he had definitely retired from official life. He spoke warmly in favour of arbitration in settlement of international disputes. On Dec. 16 the Prince of Wales will be nominated for election as Grand Master of English Mark Master Masons. This will be the twelfth successive term with which he has been honaured. On the following evening the Prince will, for the second consecutive year in United Grand Lodge, be nominated for election as Most Worshipful Grand Master of English Freemasons. The respective elections will be held on March 2 and 3, 1897. Lord Charles Beresford in a speech at the Constitutional Club, on Oct. 29, declared that the time had arrived for England to boldly announce her iutention to annex Egypt. The Morning Post (Conservative) applauds this policy. Two young Scandinavians, living at Clydebank, near Glasgow, have invented a cheap and powerful battery, which if it fulfils expectations, ; is bound to revolutionise electric traction. Mr Gladstone is about to become a bicyclist, inspired thereto by the success of his granddaughter, Dorothy Drew. Phil May takes George I)u Maurier's place on Punch.